Where Is God When Bad Things Happen?: Finding Solace in Times of Trouble [Paperback]

Luis Palau (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 20, 2000

Suffering. Its stubborn inevitability prompts our deepest doubts about life as well as a profound search for meaning. Why do we suffer? Why must we lose the ones we love? Why must each of us face sickness and death? If God exists, where is God when these things happen?

International evangelist Luis Palau has seen desperate suffering in the lives of millions of people all over the world and has experienced it in his own life. In Where Is God When Bad Things Happen?, Palau helps those in pain come to grips with the crushing adversities of life by directing them to the limitless resources found in God. Without sidestepping the most difficult questions or slipping into the pat answers of a merely intellectual faith, Palau provides encouragement and hope to those who sorely need both.

Although helpful to readers already committed in their faith, this book is especially intended for those who are still searching and who wonder where God could be in times of trouble. Instead of an academic treatise on "the problem of evil," Where Is God When Bad Things Happen? is an empathetic exploration of divine action in the midst of terrible pain.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Christian evangelist Palau addresses one of the most difficult topics of faith, evil. For the most part, his book is not analytic like C.S. Lewis's The Problem of Pain. Rather, it offers Christian consolation in specific situations. After an introductory chapter, 10 chapters deal with different bad things that can happen: the death of a child, domestic abuse, illness, rape, job loss. The reader is not intended to read straight through the book but to turn to the chapter that addresses his or her need. The final two chapters provide more general thoughts on dealing with suffering. Customers buying the book for a friend might like to be aware that each one of the 10 specific-need chapters contains an invitation to accept Christ, along with a footnote telling those who do so where they can receive more information from Palau regarding Christian life. A blurb about Palau by Billy Graham is a good indication that they appeal to the same audience. Those who share Palau's conservative evangelical Christian beliefs should find this book practical and comforting.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Intensely compassionate and personal...highly recommended."
-- CBA Marketplace

"The strength of Palau's message...can be seen in the stadiums he fills."
-- Time

"My friend Luis Palau is one of the great evangelists of our age, with a gift for reaching people around the world."
-- Charles Colson

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Galilee Trade (June 20, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385492642
• ISBN-13: 978-0385492645
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #722,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Luis Palau leads the Luis Palau Association (www.palau.org), a ministry committed to innovative evangelism throughout the world. He has shared the positive message of the good news gospel with more than an estimated 1 billion people worldwide and has spoken before live audiences in 72 countries to more than 25 million people. Dr. Palau is the author of more than 50 books and booklets in English and Spanish

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An extremely useful book, November 14, 2000

By 

Felix Y. Kwan (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Where Is God When Bad Things Happen?: Finding Solace in Times of Trouble (Paperback)

Many books have been published about the same topic. But no one can come close to this book. One needs practical resolution when in bad time. This book offers exactly this. It is preachy but it is good preaching. Highly recommended

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars God Is Always There., June 19, 2008

By 

Betty Burks "Betty Burks" (Knoxville, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Where Is God When Bad Things Happen? (Paperback)

This is a book of faith, love and healing by example, the main reason we have preachers. Most churchgoers need someone smarter than they to interpret the parables, advice and scriptures. I was flabbergasted when the prodigal returned home to find an old friend on t.v. every Sunday. With his multitude of hand language, you'd think he was teaching tottlers in a funky type of pre-school. But, to my amazement, that was his type of preaching (as if the t.v. audience were all children). And as far as being a friend, no way! Senior pastor of the beautiful ch;urch downtown where I was wed; the good memories of love gone bad immediately were shattered by not one "no" but more. Now, I am not one who begs, but two requests for help (not money) over a seven-year period of deprivation were summarily denied. He refused a friend of his mother who would have been ashamed of him; in my mind, I thought of that church as "for the homeless." It was glad news when he recently retired.

Rev. Palau starts this exhortation with details of his father's death. It's okay to put irrelevant personal facts about bad things happening to family (why'd God allow that?) in a book but not a review. Is it more painful to lose your wife to divorce than an actual death. If God can heal physical ailments (and I'm not sure He can "for me") can't He deal with the agony of failed marriages and loving relationships? Why should men like Mark be so bitter and cross at the one who loves him now with a few words better left unsaid come out unexpectedly in a way she feels it's her fault. She didn't know him at the time of his bitter, hard divorce but he refuses to fall in love again -- after all these years because the devil cast unforgiveable accusations which festered into disgust of all women. It's true we usually make the same mistakes and choose the wrong person to love. But he should not take out all the hate and vitriol he had to listen to in court (how humiliating) on a woman who adores and admires his intelligence.